Sam Cassell, a three-time NBA champion as a player and a current NBA assistant coach, is irate about his son, Sam Cassell Jr., being declared ineligible by the NCAA.

Cassell Jr. graduated from Notre Dame Prep in Fitchburg, Mass., and scored well enough on his college entrance exam but will not be allowed to play at Maryland this season because the NCAA recently invalidated six courses he took early in his tenure at Notre Dame Prep.

Sam Cassell Sr. is disappointed about the NCAA's decision to declare his son, Sam Cassell Jr., as ineligible to play for Maryland. (AP Photo)

"The NCAA just wants kids to fail," Cassell Sr. told CBS Sports. "It's not these kids' fault. The NCAA can't penalize Notre Dame Prep, so they are squashing the kids dreams."

Cassell and Xavier’s Myles Davis, a Notre Dame Prep teammate, were declared ineligible. It was a reversal by the NCAA, which allowed eight ND Prep alums to play last year, despite taking the same courses.

Eight Division I players -- UNLV’s Khem Birch, Saint Louis’ Grandy Glaze, Marquette's Todd Mayo, Louisville’s Angel Nunez, South Carolina State’s Luka Radovic, Maine’s Zarko Valijarevic and Fordham’s Devon McMillan and Jeff Short -- were cleared to play last year after attending Notre Dame Prep. After that group passed through, however, the NCAA served notice that ND Prep had been put on a “watch list.”

"They do whatever they want," the elder Cassell said. "It doesn't even do any good to fight it.

"I'm not sure what (Cassell Jr.) is going to do yet. He's going to make his own decision and I'm just here to support and guide him. But what the NCAA has done isn't right. What they do to kids isn't right."

Davis and Cassell are now considered non-qualifiers and thus will not be allowed a scholarship. Neither will be allowed to practice with his team, either. Davis’ father, Sam, said he will take out a $30,000 loan so his son can attend Xavier this year but would not rule out legal action against the NCAA.

"I can't figure it all out," Sam Davis told CBS on Wednesday. "It doesn't make any sense. When the classes were taken, Notre Dame Prep wasn't on any list. It's just not fair.

"He's shown a willingness to succeed and has been diligent. But they based their decision on his freshman and sophomore year in high school, which isn't fair. The light comes on for kids at different times and I think it's shameful what they've done."